St. Francis' Ching receives prestigious honor

Sister Agnelle Ching, Chief Sponsorship Officer and former Chief Executive Officer of St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii, has received the prestigious Sister Mary Concilia Moran Award for innovative leadership at the 2012 Catholic Health Assembly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The award has been presented to a leader in Catholic health care who has demonstrated creativity and breakthrough thinking that advances the ministry. Sister Agnelle Ching is the first one from Hawaii to receive this award.

"As with St. Marianne Cope who came to the Islands to serve those who were afflicted with Hansen's disease nearly 130 years ago, we simply bring a heart that hungers to serve God," said Sister Agnelle Ching in her acceptance speech. "When we see the needs of people through God's eyes, He always provides a way for us to meet those needs. He is the ultimate innovator. it is in meeting those needs that we can see the compassion and creativity of God at work."

Sister Agnelle Ching, who has been a Sister of St. Francis for more than 50 years, currently serves as Chief Sponsorship Officer for St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii, after serving in other executive roles with St. Francis Healthcare System for a total of 14 years.

Previously, Sister Agnelle Ching served as Chief Executive Officer of St. Francis Healthcare System, a position she held since September 2005.

It was a critical time when the System was planning the divestiture of St. Francis Medical Center in Liliha and St. Francis Medical Center-West to Hawaii Medical Center. Under her leadership, St. Francis began to chart a new direction and Sister Agnelle was instrumental in developing a 20-year vision for the healthcare system.

Sister Agnelle also oversaw a $3.2 dollar modernization of St. Francis Hospice's two freestanding inpatient hospice facilities in Nuuanu and Ewa. During her leadership, hospice census tripled, solidifying St. Francis Hospice's market position as the largest hospice provider in the state.

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